Reno Irish group continues tradition of placing a shamrock on fallen pilot's grave

12:44 AM,
Mar. 12, 2014

The Rev. John O'Connor and Silas E. Ross place a sprig of shamrock sent from Ireland at the grave maker of William Blanchfield on St. Patrick's Day 1967. The tradition started after Blanchfield's death in a Reno plane crash in 1924.

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Ninety years after his death in a fiery Reno plane crash, William Blanchfield is being remembered on two continents.

In County Cork in Ireland, a float in Monday's St. Patrick's Day Parade will pay tribute Blanchfield, an Irish native and decorated Royal Air Force pilot in World War I.

And on Sunday in Reno, the Sons and Daughters of Erin - an Irish heritage group - will continue the tradition of placing a shamrock sent from Ireland on Blanchfield's grave in Mountain View Cemetery. The public is invited to attend the 11 a.m. ceremony. ...